Register for the EcoChallenge Today!
Challenge yourself to do good
The Northwest Earth Institute (NWEI) announced today that registration is open for the 2012 EcoChallenge, which will take place from October 1-15, 2012. The annual EcoChallenge dares participants to choose one action to reduce their environmental impact, and stick to it for two weeks.
“Many peo 2000 ple already have something on their ‘to-do’ list for the planet, and the EcoChallenge is the perfect time to seize the moment and make it happen,” said NWEI Executive Director Mike Mercer. “Instead of struggling to change alone, the EcoChallenge provides built-in support from thousands of other participants. In fact, most EcoChallengers discover that what starts as a two-week challenge becomes a lifetime of meaningful change.”
Based in Portland, Oregon, NWEI is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire people to take responsibility for Earth. NWEI started the EcoChallenge in 2009, and approximately 2,000 people have participated since then. This year’s EcoChallenge is sponsored by a variety of organizations, with title sponsorship provided by The Standard.
Participants register online (as individuals or in teams) at www.ecochallenge.org. They design their own challenge in one of five categories—water, trash, energy, food or transportation. EcoChallengers share their progress with family, friends and other challengers on the website.
In 2011, EcoChallenger Sarah Crump selected trash for her challenge category and carried all of her trash with her for 2 weeks. To find out what Sarah learned – and what surprised her - check out a 90-second interview with Sarah.
“I love having these two focused weeks where you really push yourself to do something you haven’t done before, and something that will create conversation with people around you,” said Crump.
Other past EcoChallenges include: not driving a car for two weeks, doing a “100 mile diet,” and cutting household trash by 80 percent. “The EcoChallenge demonstrates that collectively, all of us taking small actions can add up to a real difference for Earth,” said Mercer.
Participants who raise more than $50 or log at least 10 successful days of the challenge are eligible for raffle prizes including gift certificates for green retailers, service providers and restaurants.
In addition, anyone who registers for the EcoChallenge before September 1 (and posts their challenge on the EcoChallenge Facebook page) will be eligible for an “early-bird” raffle for two Portland Center Stage tickets.
For more information and to register for the EcoChallenge, visit www.ecochallenge.org
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